wont to go。 And they went up by steep ways； until they came to a high field below the snows that
clad the lofty peaks； and it looked down over the precipice that stood behind the City。 And standing
there they surveyed the lands； for the morning was e； and they saw the towers of the City far
below them like white pencils touched by the sunlight； and all the Vale of Anduin was like a garden；
and the Mountains of Shadow were veiled in a golden mist。 Upon the one side their sight reached to
the grey Emyn Muil； and the glint of Rauros was like a star twinkling far off； and upon the other
side they saw the River like a ribbon laid down to Pelargir； and beyond that was a light on the hem
of the sky that spoke of the Sea。
And Gandalf said： 'This is your realm； and the heart of the greater realm that shall be。 The Third
Age of the world is ended； and the new age is begun； and it is your task to order its beginning and
to preserve what may be preserved。 For though much has been saved； much must now pass away；
and the power of the Three Rings also is ended。 And all the lands that you see； and those that lie
round about them； shall be dwellings of Men。 For the time es of the Dominion of Men； and the
Elder Kindred shall fade or depart。'
'I know it well； dear friend；' said Aragorn； 'but I would still have your counsel。'
'Not for long now；' said Gandalf。 'The Third Age was my age。 I was the Enemy of Sauron； and
my work is finished。 I shall go soon。 The burden must lie now upon you and your kindred。'
'But I shall die；' said Aragorn。 'For I am a mortal man； and though being what I am and of the
race of the West unmingled； I shall have life far longer than other men； yet that is but a little while；
and when those who are now in the wombs of women are born and have grown old； I too shall
grow old。 And who then shall govern Gondor and those who look to this City as to their queen； if
my desire be not granted？ The Tree in the Court of the Fountain is still withered and barren。 When
shall I see a sign that it will ever be otherwise？'
'Turn your face from the green world； and look where all seems barren and cold！' said Gandalf。
Then Aragorn turned。 and there was a stony slope behind him running down from the skirts of
the snow； and as he looked he was aware that alone there in the waste a growing thing stood。 And
he climbed to it； and saw that out of the very edge of the snow there sprang a sapling tree no more
than three foot high。 Already it had put forth young leaves long and shapely； dark above and silver
beneath； and upon its slender crown it bore one small cluster of flowers whose white petals shone
like the sunlit snow。
Then Aragorn cried： '_Yé！ utúvienyes！_ I have found it！ Lo！ here is a scion of the Eldest of
Trees！ But how es it here？ For it is not itself yet seven years old。'
And Gandalf ing looked at it； and said： 'Verily this is a sapling of the line of Nimloth the
fair； and that was a seedling of Galathilion； and that a fruit of Telperion of many names； Eldest of
Trees。 Who shall say how it es here in the appointed hour？ But this is an ancient hallow； and
ere the kings failed or the Tree withered in the court； a fruit must have been set here。 For it is said
that； though the fruit of the Tree es seldom to ripeness； yet the life within may then lie sleeping
through many long years； and none can foretell the time in which it will awake。 Remember this。 For
if ever a fruit ripens； it should be planted； lest the line die out of the world。 Here it has lain。 hidden
on the mountain； even as the race of Elendil lay hidden in the wastes of the North。 Yet the line of
Nimloth is older far than your line； King Elessar。'
Then Aragorn laid his hand gently to the sapling； and lo！ it seemed to hold only lightly to the
earth； and it was removed without hurt； and Aragorn bore it back to the Citadel。 Then the withered
tree was uprooted； but with reverence； and they did not burn it； but laid it to rest in the silence of
Rath Dínen。 And Aragorn planted the new tree in the court by the fountain； and swiftly and gladly
it began to grow； and when the month of June entered in it was laden with blossom。
'The sign has been given；' said Aragorn； 'and the day is not far off。' And he set watchmen upon
the walls。
It was the day before Midsummer when messengers came from Amon Dn to the City； and they
said that there was a riding of fair folk out of the North； and they drew near now to the walls of the
Pelennor。 And the King said： 'At last they have e。 Let all the City be made ready！'
Upon the very Eve of Midsummer； when the sky was blue as sapphire and white stars opened in
the East； but the West was still golden and the air was cool and fragrant； the riders came down the
North…way to the gates of Minas Tirith。 First rode Elrohir and Elladan with a banner of silver； and
then came Glorfindel and Erestor and all the household of Rivendell； and after them came the Lady
Galadriel and Celeborn； Lord of Lothlórien； riding upon white steeds and with them many fair folk
of their land； grey…cloaked with white gems in their hair； and last came Master Elrond； mighty
among Elves and Men； bearing the sceptre of Annúminas； and beside him upon a grey palfrey rode
Arwen his daughter； Evenstar of her people。
And Frodo when he saw her e glimmering in the evening； with stars on her brow and a
sweet fragrance about her； was moved with great wonder； and he said to Gandalf： 'At last I
understand why we have waited！ This is the ending。 Now not day only shall be beloved； but night
too shall be beautiful and blessed and all its fear pass away！'
Then the King weled his guests； and they alighted； and Elrond surrendered the sceptre； and
laid the hand of his daughter in the hand of the King； and together they went up into the High City；
and all the stars flowered in the sky。 And Aragorn the King Elessar wedded Arwen Undómiel in the
City of the Kings upon the day of Midsummer； and the tale of their long waiting and labours was
e to fulfilment。
_Chapter 6_
Many Partings
When the days of rejoicing were over at last the panions thought of returning to their own
homes。 And Frodo went to the King as he was sitting with the Queen Arwen by the fountain； and
she sang a song of Valinor； while the Tree grew and blossomed。 They weled Frodo and rose to
greet him； and Aragorn said：
'I know what you have e to say； Frodo： you wish to return to your own home。 Well； dearest
friend； the tree grows best in the land of its sires； but for you in all the lands of the West there will
ever be a wele。 And though your people have had little fame in the legends of the great； they
will now have more renown than any wide realms that are no more。'
'It is true that I wish to go back to the Shire；' said Frodo。 'But first I must go to Rivendell。 For if
there could be anything wanting in a time so blessed； I missed Bilbo； and I was grieved when
among all the household of Elrond I saw that he was not e。'
'Do you wonder at that； Ring…bearer？' said Arwen。 'For you know the power of that thing which
is now destroyed； and all that was done by that power is now passing away。 But your kinsman
possessed this thing longer than you。 He is ancient in years now； according to his kind； and he
awaits you； for he will not again make any long journey save one。'
'Then I beg leave to depart soon；' said Frodo。
'In seven days we will go；' said Aragorn。 'For we shall ride with you far on the road； even as far
as the country of Rohan。 In three days now éomer will return hither to bear Théoden back to rest in
the Mark； and we shall ride with him to honour the fallen。 But now before you go I will confirm the
words that Faramir spoke to you； and you are made free for ever of the realm of Gondor； and all
your panions likewise。 And if there were any gifts that I could give to match with your deeds
you should have them； but whatever you desire you shall take with you； and you shall ride in
honour and arrayed as princes of the land。'
But the Queen Arwen said： 'A gift I will give you。 For I am the daughter of Elrond。 I shall not
go with him now when he departs to the Havens； for mine is the choice of Lúthien； and as she so
have I chosen； both the sweet and the bitter。 But in my stead you shall go； Ring…bearer； when the
time es； and if you then desire it。 If your hurts grieve you still and the memory of your burden
is heavy； then you may pass into the West； until all your wounds and weariness are healed。 But
wear this now in memory of Elfstone and Evenstar with whom your life has been woven！'
And she took a white gem like a star that lay upon her breast hanging upon a silver chain； and
she set the chain about Frodo's neck。 'When the memory of the fear and the darkness troubles you；'
she said； 'this will bring you aid。'
In three days； as the King had said； éomer of Rohan came riding to the City； and with him came
an _éored_ of the fairest knights of the Mark。 He was weled； and when they sat all at table in
Merethrond； the Great Hall of Feasts； he beheld the beauty of the ladies that he saw and was filled
with great wonder。 And before he went to his rest he sent for Gimli the Dwarf； and he said to him：
'Gimli Glóin's son； have you your axe ready？'
'Nay； lord；' said Gimli； 'but I can speedily fetch it； if there be need。'
'You shall judge；' said éomer。 'For there are certain rash words concerning the Lady in the
Golden Wood that lie still between us。 And now I have seen her with my eyes。'
'Well； lord；' said Gimli； 'and what say you now？'
'Alas！' said éomer。 'I will not say that she is the fairest lady that lives。'
'Then I must go for my axe；' said Gimli。
'But first I will plead this excuse；' said éomer。 'Had I seen her in other pany； I would have
said all that you could wish。 But now I will put Queen Arwen Evenstar first； and I am ready to do
battle on my own part with any who deny me。 Shall I call for my sword？'
Then Gimli bowed low。 'Nay； you are excused for my part； lord；'